Brandon Zimmerman
Guest
Basketball Preview: University of Texas at Arlington
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
On Friday night, most of Columbus will be gearing up for the colossal matchup with Michigan State taking place the next afternoon. People will be making last second preparations from food to tail-gating or trying to figure out what jersey combination will keep them the warmest during the projected rainfall. But that is not the only game in town this weekend as the Buckeyes men’s basketball team faces the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks on Friday night.
WHAT OHIO STATE BRINGS
The Buckeyes come into this matchup with an unblemished 2-0 record after annihilating Mount Saint Mary’s and Grambling State in their first two contests. This Buckeyes team is very young but it is definitely one of the more exciting teams Thad Matta has put onto the court. Led by seven freshman and four sophomores, this team likes to push the ball and create plays under the basket which is a far cry of previous versions of the Buckeyes who seemed to consistently settle for outside shots because they had no low post presence.
This “low post presence” is comprised of 6’11” sophomore Trevor Thompson and 6’10” freshman Daniel Giddens and will be a major difference maker on Friday night since UT-A does not start anyone over 6’8”. These two have combined to average 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game through the first two games. Helping the big men out down low is Jae’Sean Tate who is only 6’4” but plays more like 7’0”. Tate is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds so far this season.
In the back court, the Buckeyes are led by freshman JaQuan Lyle who has stepped into the point guard position vacated by D’Angelo Russell. Lyle has averaged 7 points, 5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds through the first two games. The lone returning upper classman Marc Loving has stepped up in the first two games and played like many have expected him to the past couple of years. So far, he is averaging 14.5 points and 8 rebounds per game. If he can stay consistent this year, the Buckeyes may be in a better position than many of their competitors. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Kam Williams had his best game of his career against Grambling State. Williams was able to score 22 points, grab 5 rebounds, and get 4 steals in only 26 minutes.
WHAT UNIVERSITY of TEXAS-ARLINGTON BRINGS
The University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks are led by Scott Cross who is in his 9th season as head coach. Cross played for UTA from 1995 to 1998 where he was a three-year letter winner. After his playing career was finished, he immediately became an assistant coach for the Mavericks in 1998 and continued in that capacity for eight years until he took over as head coach. Overall, Cross has a 154-129 record as head coach.
The Mavericks are a member of the Sun Belt Conference where they became a member prior to the 2013-2014 season. In their two seasons as members of the Sun Belt conference, the Mavericks hold a conference record of 19-19 with a 6th and 5th place finish. The Mavericks last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2008 when they lost in the first round to Memphis after finishing 21-12 in the second season under Cross.
As mentioned above, the Mavericks utilize a very small team where they only have one player on their roster who is above 6’8” and that is Brandon Williams who has yet to play this season. Much like the Buckeyes deployed numerous times over the past couple of years, the Mavericks go with a 3-guard and 2-forward starting lineup.
This season, the Mavericks come to Columbus sporting a 1-1 record on the young season. In their first contest they beat Fordham 77-72. The Mavericks were led in scoring by junior forward Faith Pope who came off the bench to give them 14 points. Junior Jalen Jones added 11 points and 7 rebounds from his guard position.
In their second matchup, the Mavericks lost to Louisiana Tech 68-80. The Mavericks had a 10-point lead at the half but were not able to hold on in the second half. Sophomore guard Erick Neal had a great game for the Mavericks scoring 23 points, dishing out 7 assists, grabbing 4 rebounds, and using aggressive defense to get 3 steals. Another sophomore, Kaelon Wilson, came off the bench to add 13 points in the losing effort.
As with most team who deploy so many guards in their rotation, the Mavericks live and die by shooting the three pointer. Against Fordham, the Mavericks attempted 25 three-point shots only connecting on nine of them. Against Louisiana Tech, they attempted 29 three-point shots and successfully completed eight of them.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Name Height Weight Class Position Name Height Weight Class
Kevin Harvey 6’7” 210 SO F/F Jae’Sean Tate 6’4” 225 SO
Jorge Bilbao 6’8” 235 JR F/C Trevor Thompson 6’11” 250 SO
Erick Neal 5’11” 160 SO G/F Marc Loving 6’7” 220 JR
Drew Charles 6’2” 193 RS JR G/F Keita Bates-Diop 6’7” 235 SO
Jalen Jones 6’3” 200 JR G/G JaQuan Lyle 6’5” 210 FR
PREDICTION
Ohio State is playing with confidence and having fun so far this season. The Buckeyes not only have the size to dominate in the paint but they also have the athletic ability to keep up with the endless stream of guards the Mavericks put on the court. The Buckeyes need to stay disciplined on defense and not allow the Mavericks to heat up from outside the arc, as it seems like every team did last year against the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes win 83-57
The post Basketball Preview: University of Texas at Arlington appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
On Friday night, most of Columbus will be gearing up for the colossal matchup with Michigan State taking place the next afternoon. People will be making last second preparations from food to tail-gating or trying to figure out what jersey combination will keep them the warmest during the projected rainfall. But that is not the only game in town this weekend as the Buckeyes men’s basketball team faces the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks on Friday night.
WHAT OHIO STATE BRINGS
The Buckeyes come into this matchup with an unblemished 2-0 record after annihilating Mount Saint Mary’s and Grambling State in their first two contests. This Buckeyes team is very young but it is definitely one of the more exciting teams Thad Matta has put onto the court. Led by seven freshman and four sophomores, this team likes to push the ball and create plays under the basket which is a far cry of previous versions of the Buckeyes who seemed to consistently settle for outside shots because they had no low post presence.
This “low post presence” is comprised of 6’11” sophomore Trevor Thompson and 6’10” freshman Daniel Giddens and will be a major difference maker on Friday night since UT-A does not start anyone over 6’8”. These two have combined to average 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game through the first two games. Helping the big men out down low is Jae’Sean Tate who is only 6’4” but plays more like 7’0”. Tate is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds so far this season.
In the back court, the Buckeyes are led by freshman JaQuan Lyle who has stepped into the point guard position vacated by D’Angelo Russell. Lyle has averaged 7 points, 5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds through the first two games. The lone returning upper classman Marc Loving has stepped up in the first two games and played like many have expected him to the past couple of years. So far, he is averaging 14.5 points and 8 rebounds per game. If he can stay consistent this year, the Buckeyes may be in a better position than many of their competitors. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Kam Williams had his best game of his career against Grambling State. Williams was able to score 22 points, grab 5 rebounds, and get 4 steals in only 26 minutes.
WHAT UNIVERSITY of TEXAS-ARLINGTON BRINGS
The University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks are led by Scott Cross who is in his 9th season as head coach. Cross played for UTA from 1995 to 1998 where he was a three-year letter winner. After his playing career was finished, he immediately became an assistant coach for the Mavericks in 1998 and continued in that capacity for eight years until he took over as head coach. Overall, Cross has a 154-129 record as head coach.
The Mavericks are a member of the Sun Belt Conference where they became a member prior to the 2013-2014 season. In their two seasons as members of the Sun Belt conference, the Mavericks hold a conference record of 19-19 with a 6th and 5th place finish. The Mavericks last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2008 when they lost in the first round to Memphis after finishing 21-12 in the second season under Cross.
As mentioned above, the Mavericks utilize a very small team where they only have one player on their roster who is above 6’8” and that is Brandon Williams who has yet to play this season. Much like the Buckeyes deployed numerous times over the past couple of years, the Mavericks go with a 3-guard and 2-forward starting lineup.
This season, the Mavericks come to Columbus sporting a 1-1 record on the young season. In their first contest they beat Fordham 77-72. The Mavericks were led in scoring by junior forward Faith Pope who came off the bench to give them 14 points. Junior Jalen Jones added 11 points and 7 rebounds from his guard position.
In their second matchup, the Mavericks lost to Louisiana Tech 68-80. The Mavericks had a 10-point lead at the half but were not able to hold on in the second half. Sophomore guard Erick Neal had a great game for the Mavericks scoring 23 points, dishing out 7 assists, grabbing 4 rebounds, and using aggressive defense to get 3 steals. Another sophomore, Kaelon Wilson, came off the bench to add 13 points in the losing effort.
As with most team who deploy so many guards in their rotation, the Mavericks live and die by shooting the three pointer. Against Fordham, the Mavericks attempted 25 three-point shots only connecting on nine of them. Against Louisiana Tech, they attempted 29 three-point shots and successfully completed eight of them.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Name Height Weight Class Position Name Height Weight Class
Kevin Harvey 6’7” 210 SO F/F Jae’Sean Tate 6’4” 225 SO
Jorge Bilbao 6’8” 235 JR F/C Trevor Thompson 6’11” 250 SO
Erick Neal 5’11” 160 SO G/F Marc Loving 6’7” 220 JR
Drew Charles 6’2” 193 RS JR G/F Keita Bates-Diop 6’7” 235 SO
Jalen Jones 6’3” 200 JR G/G JaQuan Lyle 6’5” 210 FR
PREDICTION
Ohio State is playing with confidence and having fun so far this season. The Buckeyes not only have the size to dominate in the paint but they also have the athletic ability to keep up with the endless stream of guards the Mavericks put on the court. The Buckeyes need to stay disciplined on defense and not allow the Mavericks to heat up from outside the arc, as it seems like every team did last year against the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes win 83-57
The post Basketball Preview: University of Texas at Arlington appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...